Window at the Mint

8x10, oil on canvas panel

The Mint Museum was first opened in 1936, and it was the first art museum in North Carolina!  It was originally a US Mint which is, or course, responsible for its name.  A new Mint Museum has been added to uptown Charlotte and it is wonderful, but I still love the old Mint.  The new Mint is arts and crafts.  There is a turned bowl by Matt Moultrop, a former student of mine.  The Moultrop turned wooden bowls began with Matt's grandfather, who was also a lawyer.  His son, also a lawyer, began making the bowls, and now his son, Matt, has carried on the family tradition.

Beautiful Afternoon Weather

9x11, oil on canvas panel

Happy New Year to you all!  It will interesting to see what 2012 will bring.

I spent last week in Charleston--a birthday gift from my family--we had a wonderful  time.

One morning we all went out gallery hopping.  My favorite was Wells, also loved Smith-Killian, and Horton Hayes.  Plan to see many Charleston paintings because I took about a billion photos.

This painting is on Daily Paintworks.  Click on the icon to the right and type in my name to see.

Baxter Office Building, Fort Mill, SC (sold)

8x10, oil on canvas panel

I painted this in the charming development called Baxter in Fort Mill, SC.  There are over 2000 houses and condos, along with a main street with stores, restaurants, and offices.  I was painting what I thought was a house, but it was actually an orthodontist office.  One of the doctors walked out and bought my painting to give to the other doctor for Christmas. 

This was one of the Tuesday morning plein air activities I do with about 12 other painters.  We always have lunch afterwards and discuss art and also solve the world's problems.  The restaurant owner is going to give us a showing this spring, so we will go back to Baxter and paint more before than.

My sister and her husband are coming for Christmas and will stay a while after the holiday, so I will not be posting any for about a week and a half.  I have been painting and have much to show.  However, we have rain today and the rest of the week, so I can't take good photos.

Here's wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Connie

Broken Windows

8x10. oil on canvas panel

I chanced upon this old building with most of the windows  broken out.  The light was just right, reflecting a nice blue in the remaining windows.  I thought it strange that none of the windows matched.  Perhaps it was a do-it-yourself with whatever windows were available.

Computer

My computer in at the manufactor's hospital getting a new motherboard.  I am using an old computer and cannot download photos, so I will not be posting art until my computer's return--probably in 2 weeks. 

My best wishes for happy holidays at your house!

Connie

November

8x10, oil on canvas panel

Well, Thanksgiving is over and it's back to painting.  We had one daughter, one son, one daughter-in-law, one son-in-law, 3 grandchildren and 2 dogs.  A good time was had by all!  This seems like a good opportunity to sneak in a photo of 2 of the grandchildren. 

Emma and Ethan, 9 and 7.

Matthews Shed

8x10, oil on canvas panel

I've been out of town, but did manage a little painting.  I finished this one and started another landscape.

I began this as a plein air study in Matthews, NC, a small town close to me.  This shed belonged to quite an imposing house, but I preferred the humble shed. which meant I would have to set up in the yard.  I knocked on the door to ask permission, but no answer, so I set up anyway, prepared to apologize.  I suppose they were at work because no one ever appeared.  Some people are delighted to have someone paint and show great interest.  A few people are not quite as gracious.  Oh well--all's well that ends well!

Into the Woods

10x10, oil on canvas panel

This path does not lead to the woods.  It parallels Park Road here in Charlotte.  Sometimes

thinking up a name for a painting is a head scratcher, but this one just popped into my head and I liked it.

The rocks were really huge and the sun was hitting them just right.  It was a perfect spot.

The Creek at Willow Wisp Farm

8x10, oil on canvas panel (on eBay)

Several years ago I took a workshop from Camille Prezwodek at Willow Wisp Farm in North Carolina.  Camille is a colorist from California.  As you can see, it didn't take completely.  I do love color and am

working on pushing it more.  However, I think I am a

tonalist at heart.  I think all that drawing I did made me  much aware of value and tone.

Shrimp Boat

12x12, oil on canvas panel

This is another version of Sea Horse which I published earlier.  I am working on 2 other

paintings of shrimp boats, also in a square format.  I blurred the line between the water and land

in this one. making it slightly abstract.

Field and Stream (sold)

9x11, oil on canvas panel

I painted this in preparation for painting a larger one.  Trying to solve the

problems early!  I find I am using a painting knife more and more

and really like it.  It's easier than a brush to pop in some

pure color.

I put this on auction on Daily Paintworks today.

The Orange Roof

5x7, oil on canvas panel

Noda Garden Shed, Charlotte, NC (sold)

8x10, oil on canvas panel

Noda stands for north of Davidson, an idea probably borrowed from Soho in NYC.  Noda is Charlotte's art district.  The houses are wonderful-old and full of character, but the light was not good for them, so I chose to paint a backyard shed.l

Sea Horse

11x14, oil on canvas panel

This is a study for a larger painting.  I pushed the color a little, flattened the yellow space, and used a painting knife for some areas to give some extra texture.  It's named Sea Horse because that's the name of the boat.  I just chose not to paint it, although I may change my mind.

Across the Street, Weddington, NC

'8x10, oil on canvas panel

I painted this en plein air, carefully positioning my canvas, palette, and easel in the shade, all the time trying for the best angle for a strong composition.

As I painted the sun moved and I was no longer in the shade, but didn't realize it.  Oh my, my painting was gorgeous--I created a masterpiece!!!  And then I took it inside.  It was

dead in the water, dull and lifeless.  Painting in the sun makes your colors look bright, so the artist tends to mix duller colors without knowing it.

So I brought it home and repainted many of the passages in brighter colors.  It does look so much better, but the spontaneity has been lost.  Most of the time reworking a painting works for me

and sometimes it does not.  Hey, there's always tomorrow.

Sunday Afternoon at Reedy Park (sold)

12x12, oil on canvas panel

I was thinking of Seurat's Sunday Afternoon at la Grand Jatte when I named this painting.  This was

painted last week, and I forgot to post it.  I think I have

let my life get too busy.

I painted this morning in a friend's garden.  It is a cloudy day so not the best

weather, but good practice.  The good thing is is will rain tomorrow, so I came home

and limed and reseeded the yard. (yawn)..time for a nap!

Fallen Tree, Reedy Park, NC (sold)

10x10, oil on canvas panel

Reedy Park was a hubbub of activity while I was painting.  There were

people fishing, hiking, and even a group from

a horticulture class identifying native plants.

I thought this painting might work well with a couple of figures, and since there

were plenty to look at I added two.

Dirt

detail,  oil

I'm back from the wedding and festivities.  It was a joyous time and great fun.  An added bonus was

that I got to spend a few days after the wedding with

some high school friends.  I enjoyed each and every moment.

If you read this blog regularly, you may remember that I dropped a painting,

wet side down, while returning to the car after a painting trip.  Above is a detailed photo of some

of the grit, dirt, and pebbles that stuck to the painting  It's dry now, so tomorrow

I'll try to get it off and repair the painting.  Hope to post it tomorrow night.

The Garden Shed (sold)

11x9, oil on canvas panel

Most landscape painters lament the fact that everything is so GREEN .  While this is hardly an epiphany,

it is difficult to paint so many greens and not have your painting all

look the same.  That's why I prefer to have a building in the landscape to introduce

another color.  So finding the garden shed was quite fortunate.

I will put this on the Daily Paintworks site tonight.  You can find it by clicking on the icon on the

right hand side.  There is some stellar painting on this site.

Yesterday I painted in Reedy Park--a lake scene.  When walking back my painting fell, on the painted side , or course, and all the grit, dirt, and tiny pebbles stuck to it.  When it dries I'll brush it off, repair any places that need it, and post.  I must say, it certainly does look like authentic

plein air work!

I'll be involved in a family wedding and the attending festivities for a few days.  Please check back on the 29th.

The Quiet Street

5x7, oil on canvas panel

What's not to love about a yellow house?

Water's Edge and Fallen Logs (sold)

5x7, oil on canvas panel

I was looking down into a creek when I painted this.

Reflections, Butler Park, Matthews, NC

8x10, oil on canvas panel

Now that the weather is so delightful, I will be painting plein air more.  It's perfectly ok to paint from photographs.  I do it all the time.  But there is nothing comparable to getting

outside where you have ALL the information right in front of you.

Then there's the problem of what to leave out.  It's an excellent exercise for

the serious, and not so serious, painter.

Butler Park is just a few miles from my house, and it has so many painting possibilities.

There is a horse farm as you leave the park, and I am hoping to

get permission to paint there.

September Farm



9x11, oil on canvas panel

I am loving this wonderful cooler weather with low humidity. It makes me want to paint outside again. This is one of my favorite farm scenes to paint. The white building suckers me in everytime.

 
 
 
 
 




Storm Clouds

9x11, oil on canvas panel, damar varnich

Garlic

    5x7, oil on canvas panel

I've been out of town for quite some time, but I'm back for Labor Day and

some serious painting!  I have certainly missed my paints.

Since most of us will be cooking out for Labor Day, I decided to paint some cloves of garlic.  And just to top it off here's a 5 star recipe from Allrecipes for barbecue ribs with garlic.

                          http://allrecipes.com/recipe/barbecue-ribs/detail.aspx